Who Will Buy Kevin Costner's Oil Skimmer?

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Some might say that he is living in his own Field of Dreams, but one thing’s for sure — Kevin Costner wants someone to buy his barge skimmers to keep the U.S. Gulf Coast safe from future oil spills.

Last week, he took CNN’s Soledad O’Brien on a tour of his vessels docked in Berwick, Louisiana. “What we offer up is eight boats to do what 9,000 boats couldn’t,” Costner declared.
He told O’Brien that his fleet can remove about 98 percent of the oil in the Gulf’s waters … that is, if rescue efforts cease use of dispersants. His philosophy is that dispersants are a “chemical to get off the front page” and prove counterproductive to oil cleanup efforts.

BP has not yet shown interest in Costner’s idea — it is unclear whether it’s the technology or the actor’s $48 million annual price tag that has hindered any advancement here. But that hasn’t slowed Costner’s commitment to cleaning the Gulf.

Last Wednesday, his band Modern West performed at the House of Blues in New Orleans’ French Quarter to benefit the non-profit organization Guardians of the Gulf. Funds from the event will go toward the construction of three health clinics along the Gulf Coast.

What do you think of Costner’s idea — is it something that BP and other oil companies should consider? Or are we witnessing Waterworld, Part II?